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The Aging Game You have more influence than you think when it comes to staying healthy as you age As a young sailor, Cmdr. George Jewett, USN-Ret., saw fierce action in the Pacific theater that resulted in the sinking of the American carrier
Liscomb Bay. Col. Gordon Dison, USA-Ret., was often too close to the receiving end of artillery as an Army forward observer in Korea. Lt. Col. Dick Alexander,
USMC-Ret., experienced combat in three wars. Missions involving grave danger are not uncommon during a military career—they’re part of the job. But just when you thought such times were gone forever, recent research tells us that we might face our most
challenging mission after we’ve hung up our uniforms: our own aging. The good news is that we now know much more about countering this threat. More good news is that each of us, armed with the correct information, can successfully maneuver through the minefields of aging. The bad news is that too many of us either are not equipped with the knowledge we need or, worse, don’t realize we’re threatened at all. The research The answer to these questions is a resounding no, according to the decade-long study on aging by The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. This study, involving physicians, psychologists, gerontologists, sociologists, and other experts in aging, set out to explain why one 82-year-old is on cross-country skis while another is in a wheelchair. The researchers sought to determine what causes these drastically different outcomes. Their conclusions have shattered our myths about aging and changed how we view the later portion of our lives, a portion which, for more and more of us, consists of almost one-third of our time on earth.
As someone who cut his teeth in the military, I say bring it on.
As someone who cut his teeth in the military, I say bring it on. Yes, I would much rather be part of the solution: playing a major role in the most important mission of the rest of my life. And just in case you’re thinking that this battle already might have been pretty much played out, an additional finding of the MacArthur Foundation study tells us it’s never too late to make a difference—that you might be wounded and beaten down by old injuries, arthritis, or even heart disease, yet you can make a significant difference in the quality (and often the quantity) of your life. Let’s look at what the MacArthur Foundation study found were the most common characteristics of successful “agers,” those who are still going strong at 70, 80, 90, and beyond. This will give us a good idea of what it takes to meet the challenge of aging well. Winning qualitiesFirst, those who stay at high levels of performance well past retirement age work hard at it. These folks pay attention to their physical and mental capabilities and keep challenging themselves by staying active and learning new things. Second, successful agers know the threats and do what it takes to counter them. They reduce their risks for developing diseases or getting injured by working with their physicians, getting their immunizations, colonoscopies, and physical exams; by learning all they can about staying healthy; and by doing it. Finally, our champions of aging stay engaged in life by maintaining a network of friends and doing something meaningful, which can vary from working to eliminate world hunger to tending a small garden in the backyard.
Champions of aging stay engaged in life by maintaining a network of friends and doing something meaningful.
Does it work? George Jewett and Gordon Dison made physical exercise a part of their lives decades ago and have never looked back. Today Dison, 75, continues to travel extensively with his wife and actively hunts and fishes near his home in Huntsville, Ala. And Jewett? Well, George, now 84 and still with 20/20 uncorrected vision, recently took a new bride! Dick Alexander, 79, noticed a little chest pain during his daily two-mile walk, so he went to his physician, had coronary artery bypass surgery, and was out of the hospital in four days and back walking his two miles three weeks later. And Col. Ray Pritz, USAF-Ret., a 27-year-career chaplain, is now 83 and teaches Bible studies and volunteers at the local Shriners Hospital. A lifestyle of challenging their minds and bodies, lowering risk, and staying engaged has worked for these retired officers. Did their experience in the military help them age well? “Absolutely,” says Pritz. “The self-discipline and appreciation of the benefits of being physically fit has made the difference for me.” Alexander agrees: “My doctors told me that my recovery time from cardiac surgery was minimized because of my level of fitness. My belief in the value of being physically fit has stayed with me since my time in the Corps.” Dison and his wife are moving to a new continuing care retirement community, one designed for retired military members. Still a leader even decades after leaving the Army, Dison didn’t hesitate. “I was the very first one to sign up,” says Dison. “It’s exactly the kind of environment we’re looking for.” It’s clear that what it takes to age successfully is the same as what we did to stay at our best when we were younger. Our bodies and minds, like any machines, function best when they’re used. Many experts think the most serious threat to aging successfully lies in our own expectations and attitude. If we accept the false view that aging means only loss and deterioration, we “punch out” of life and live one of reduced physical, mental, and social activity, content to stay on the fringes of life rather than in it up to our elbows. The adverse effects on health and quality of life are predictable. Dr. Robert Kahn, professor emeritus at the University of Michigan, one of the lead investigators of the MacArthur Foundation study, and coauthor of the book Successful Aging, summarizes the decade-long study with three short sentences: “It’s up to you. It’s never too late. And the usual aging isn’t good enough.” So, even though you don’t put on your uniform every day, you still have a mission to complete—one summarized well by the Army’s former slogan: “Be all you can be.” You might do it for your loved ones or for yourself, but the risks of doing otherwise are much too high to ignore. No matter what condition you are presently in, you have the ability to make a difference and meet the many challenges of aging, to continue to grow and learn, and to be a major player in life. In short, you have all you need to take charge of your aging.
Ten Ways to Take Charge
1. USE IT OR LOSE IT: As with any skill we have, our physical, mental, and social abilities will deteriorate if we don’t challenge them. This is common sense, yet somehow as we age we attribute lost ability to “getting old” rather than being out of shape or out of practice.
2. KEEP MOVING: Staying active—even walking just 45 minutes a day—can prevent heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, and even dementia. The best results come from a three-prong approach: endurance (walking, bicycling, swimming), flexibility and balance (stretching, yoga, tai chi chuan), and strength. Just a few basic exercises twice weekly can work wonders to keep us totally independent for decades. Use home equipment, gyms, or get the National Institute on Aging’s free guide on exercise—(800) 222-2225 or www.nih.gov/nia—for a simple, at-home program that doesn’t require purchasing equipment. Also see “Fit for Life” by Eric Minton in the December 2002 issue of The Retired Officer Magazine. 3. CHALLENGE YOUR MIND: Our mental function depends on neural highways, which, when not used, eventually become unavailable, like a neglected road. We know now we can continue to learn, including growing new connections (highways) in our brains, throughout our lives. Keeping physically and mentally active makes it twice as likely you won’t suffer from dementia. Take courses, converse with friends, learn a language, or exercise your memory. Even playing word games can keep us mentally sharp. Consider learning an adventure rather than something you avoid. 4. STAY CONNECTED: We are social creatures and need human interaction to thrive. As you no doubt experienced during your military career, camaraderie was the basis of both sanity and heroism during difficult times. It is no different later in life. Cherish family and rebuild neglected friendships. Seek out some of those military friends who meant so much to you when you served. Consider your living arrangements. Would you enjoy living near people you have much in common with? What about a facility where all the resources you might need in the future are readily available without the need to move again? Join clubs that interest you and, just as when you were in uniform, be open to meeting new people. 5. NEVER ACT YOUR AGE: Our society equates aging with decline. John Glenn and Chuck Yeager didn’t “act their age,” and the world is better for it. Following your heart and how you feel, rather than obsolete expectations for your age, will keep you colorful, creative, and engaged in life and allow you to continue to contribute to society. 6. BEWARE OF THE THREATS: Most of us are at high risk for certain diseases or conditions. By identifying these risks and working with our doctors, we can lower the threat and stay well, allowing us to function at high levels for decades. Get your immunizations, cancer screenings, and physical exams. If you are a smoker, it’s time to choose living over the high risk of cancer or heart disease. 7. EAT FOR THE LONG HAUL: Like machines, our bodies need proper fuel to function. Drink lots of water, eat at least five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily, take a multivitamin, and talk to your doctor about additional supplements you might need. Above all, do not go long periods without eating. Low glucose levels in the blood could be responsible for some of the dementia of later life. Stay lean, but do it with physical activity and balanced eating, not by dieting. 8. HAVE CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE: Adults need children to help keep them young. You may value the relative peace and absence of responsibility that came when your children left home, but it is difficult to have a sense of meaning in life or of giving back without children involved. If you’re not blessed with grandchildren or great-grandchildren, look into other opportunities in the community, such as mentoring, storytelling at schools or libraries, or volunteering for organizations that work for the benefit of children, such as the Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Inc. 9. BE NEEDED: There are abundant opportunities to work for the betterment of the community or of those who are less fortunate. We took care of each other when we were in uniform, and now, more than ever, there is a need to reach out. Any activity that gives us a sense of nurturing the world around us will help us as we help others. Even pets and plants can offer the kinds of relationships that help us stay engaged in life. 10. LAUGH: Humor is the mainstay of military life. It allows us to bear discomfort, fear, even horror, and still go on. So it is with life after the military. Research demonstrates that humor can stimulate the immune system, potentially protecting us from disease. The most common trait seen in those 100 or older is a sense of humor and optimism. Not only is it healthy, but it also makes the journey for you, and those around you, much more pleasant.
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